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Category Archives: Lenovo

First of all, I’d like to say how thankful I am for Lenovo giving me this laptop to review. I have really enjoyed putting it through the paces as my main machine.

One of the major trends in personal computers since the release of Windows 8 last October was the increase of touch-enabled laptops. In the past, people have scoffed at the idea of touching your laptop screen, saying that it is too awkward or pointless. That may have been true with Windows 7, which wasn’t as optimized for touch as Windows 8 is.

However, with Windows 8, touch now makes perfect sense on any device, from a large all-in-one PC to a little 13 inch laptop. (Obviously touch makes perfect sense on a tablet) Within the first few hours, I was completely accustomed to touching the screen that I completely forgot about the track pad. In fact, whenever I needed to use a laptop without touch, I found myself touching the screen, only to be frustrated when it didn’t work. J

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to use the touch screen to do everything, so I found myself using the mouse for a few things. For example, applications like Photoshop, Illustrator, Muse, and Visual Studio (applications which I use on a daily basis), require a more precise interaction than a touch screen can provide. However, the majority of people don’t use these applications and this wouldn’t be a problem for them.

Overall, I used touch for when I was not on the desktop. I would use touch in Internet Explorer, Tweetro+, and just about every other Windows 8 application I use. It was especially fun to play around with Fresh Paint on Windows 8. (No, I’m not going to share any art, it would be too embarrassing. J)

Games was also great to have touch for. I had purchased Angry Birds Star Wars before, but because it wasn’t working on Windows RT, I hadn’t had a chance to play it at all. (I absolutely refused to play it using a mouse. That is just pointless.) But when I received this computer, finally my chance at popping some storm trooper pigs had arrived.

Unfortunately this Ultrabook is not for me. I love the size and touch capabilities, but it turns out that I require a much more powerful device to accomplish what I need to do. I do a lot of programming and design work, which requires me to have multiple resource-intensive applications running at once. Running Visual Studio (for programming), Photoshop, Illustrator, and Muse (for design), I quickly reached the max memory and processor load.

So while this device would be perfect for the average user, It’s not for me. (Which makes me sad because I love the size of the device and the touch capabilities)

This 10.1-inch Lenovo tablet looks pretty awesome, but where are the face shots? Whoever leaked this couldn’t get pictures of the front of the device. Hmmm . . .

Anyways, from what we can see of this tablet, it looks pretty awesome! Rumored to be running Android’s new Ice Cream Sandwhich OS, this purports to be a device to be reckoned with.

It is said to have include NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 T33 processor, along with 2gb . . . you heard that right . . . 2gb of 1,600MHz of DDR3 RAM. Lenovo also decided to throw in there a full-sized USB socket, which they also had included in their Thinkpad Tablet released not to long ago. And not to mention the fingerprint scanner.

This is a relatively easy task even for those not very technically inclined.

Tools: A small Phillips head screwdriver, a small flat head screwdriver, and a pair of small pliers. A small container is also preferred to hold loose screws.

First, begin by powering off the device, unplugging the power adapter, and removing the battery.

Now, there is a large panel on the bottom of the laptop, held into place by seven (7) Phillips head screws.

Once you have removed those seven screws and placed them in a safe place, use the flat head screwdriver to pop up the panel, starting on the right side in the above picture. Be careful not to break any of the small clips holding it in place.

Once you have removed the panel, set it aside somewhere safe. You should now see something similar to the below picture.

In the above picture, the wireless card is in the top right of the large “hole” left by the panel. It has a small barcode on it, and black and white wires running vertically to it.

With the small pliers, gently but firmly remove the two wires connected to the wireless card. Don’t worry, they just pop straight off.

There is one small screw holding the wireless card down. Unscrew it and set the screw somewhere safe, you are going to need it.

Gently pull the wireless card towards the center of the laptop until the connection comes loose.

Then remove and set somewhere safe.

Carefully unpack the new wireless card.

From now on, we are basically doing the same steps in reverse.

Gently insert the new wireless card by sliding it into the connection. Look carefully before you start, there is only one way to insert it and you don’t want to break your new wireless card. Or the laptop for that matter.

Now, screw in the small screw that you set aside.

Now, using the pliers, carefully attach the wire connections. They go on straight down.

Here, the new wireless card is completely attached.

Now, replace the panel, making sure to press down all around the edges until you here it click in place and it is flush with the rest of the bottom.

Now, screw in each of the seven screws.

Then, reinsert your battery, plug in the laptop (if desired), and power on the laptop.

There you have it!

Windows, or any other operating system, should automatically detect the new hardware and have it ready for use.

I just recently stumbled upon a setting allowing you to change the color of the On Screen Display (OSD) on my Lenovo Thinkpad Edge. You can do this if you are bored with the original black and white that it comes pre-set as.

{Prerequisites: Lenovo Thinkpad, Windows 7, On Screen Display driver installed. (This may work with other models, so if you find that it can, let me know in the comments so I can update the post)}

So, here is what you do:

1) First, minimize everything you have open by clicking the button in the bottom right corner of your screen. (To the right of the Time)

<— Here

2) Right-Click on a blank part of the desktop.

3) In the menu that opens, click “Screen Resolution”

4) Click on the “Advanced Settings” link in the Windows that opens up.

5) In the window that opens, click the “On Screen Display” Tab.

6) Then you can click on one of the buttons to the right of “Foreground color” and “Background color”.

7) You can then choose your colors and click the “Apply” button. The Capslock and NumLock OSD flashes in your new colors.

8 ) Click the “OK” button on the Advanced Properties window.

9) Click the “OK” button on the Screen Resolution windows.

That’s it!

Enjoy your new colors!

(If you find that this process works with a different model computer than the one(s) listed, please leave a comment with the make and model of your computer.)